Current economic situation could increase support for Christian Exodus, leader of group says

Cory Burnell is the founder of Christian Exodus, which hopes to move “thousands of Christians to South Carolina to re-establish constitutionally limited government founded upon Christian principles.” He spoke to the Anderson Independent-Mail after visiting South Carolina to participate in a PBS documentary about the intersection of faith and politics.

Cory Burnell, president of Christian Exodus, talks about his views of laws and life in the United States.

ANDERSON COUNTY - Cory Burnell, the leader of Christian Exodus, said Wednesday that recent changes in the economy could lead to a greater number of people supporting his cause of constitutionalism.

In an interview in downtown Anderson, Mr. Burnell said that since he lost his job opportunity in June 2007, roughly a dozen of his supporters had stalled in their plans to move to the Upstate.

But recent fluctuations in the United States economy could push the country into economic turmoil and lead thousands of people to support the Christian Exodus cause, Mr. Burnell said.

Christian Exodus hopes to mobilize Christian constitutionalists to move to South Carolina and impact local elections. Their goal, Mr. Burnell said, is to force the federal government to adhere to the United States Constitution. If they cannot, they would move to secede South Carolina from the United States.

Mr. Burnell, who is a financial planner, said the recent economic turmoil in world markets could be the beginning of an economic collapse of the United States economy.

"We have always put the project in the context of the current socioeconomic front," he said. "But that is rapidly changing. … If people see changes in their socioeconomic status, that will change people's thoughts about their current strategy toward their government."

Enough frustration with the government, he said, could expand his movement to thousands of people.

John Alexander, interim department chair of finance with Clemson University, said while voters are more likely to become politically active when they feel their government is the cause of an economic slowdown, that would not be the case now.

"I think that voters are pretty well aware that this economic slowdown is caused by the subprime mortgage crisis," Mr. Alexander said. "With this economic slowdown, I don't think the average taxpayer is going to bear the brunt of it."

Ben Hanley, an economic advisor with Legacy Financial Group in Honea Path, said the economic picture is glum, but not disastrous.

"I don't think it's that dire. In the short term, I think we're in for some serious declines," Mr. Hanley said. "Longer than 10 years out, I would almost agree with (Mr. Burnell's economic forecast), given Social Security and the baby boomers retiring. But, right now, I think it's going to be more of the historic same."